Focal Reducers - Complete Overview and Function

This video is a complete overview of focal reducers and how they function applying to telescopes. There are many different types of focal reducers and they all effect the way your light is gathered in different ways. A very powerful focal reducer will give you more light, but results in more vignetting. A subtle focal reducer will gather less light but give you less vignetting. There are many aspects to a focal reducer and you will find them all discussed in this complete overview!

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[melvincoleman]

You did a much better job explaining focal reducers than 2 dozen other videos a had to watch. THANKS !!!

[robbrookes]

Dude. You are such a wonderful teacher. I am a 47 year old man in 🇦🇺 and I was schooled…so interesting. I now have so much more interest in the hobby. Exciting

[antandshell]

Seriously the best description & presentation for a focal reducer i have ever seen. TY

[milllworks]

Extremely well done for essentially extemporaneous tutorial. You definitely know your subject matter, and that comes thru! I just ordered a 6.3 based on your enlightening video. Thank you.

[rogeliocprinci]

Hi...what about using a Steeltrack Focuser with a fecal reducer ?? Thanks great video

[kevinrevallo]

WOW! Just WOW! Slymin -I am impressed... and BLOWN away at the same time - So much to learn at an old age! Nice Job!!

[TheJohn]

Thank you for helping a beginner understand focal reducers. Great video 👍

[liveandgrow]

I'm having to re-learn a lot of this stuff and this video was perfect. Thank you!

[johnmeggers]

Excellent explanations. Keep up the good work.

For the record, the “g” in “vignetting” is silent. It’s pronounced like “vin-yet”

[michellepierce]

Great presentation, just shy of 3 years ago, informative and to he point. I read forums for hours with math equations being tossed back and forth. Just wanted a simple explanation on how it works. You did it. I'm a visual learner so I appreciated the graphics. Thank you for the effort you put into this video, with clean fingernails too, ha ha. PS, yes i did burn ants but that was in the 70"s, now new 'mid life' hobby with astronomy. The stars look like ants. :-) May you continue to have balanced success in life with family, faith and work.

[yanwan]

This can be used on Celestron 127slt ?

[kevinwenrick]

Old post, but what a great job explaining more than just focal reduction. Loved the diagram showing AFOV, a light bulb came on. Thank you very much.

[zodiacdoc]

Thank you - I am amazed at how much you know at such a young age.

[genefoster]

I was thinking about a reducer for my Mak-Cas for visual use. Your presentation showed me I would benefit so thanks.

[starwatcher]

Still a useful video six years after you made it. Thanks. Wonder what cool stuff you've done since?

[AstroBlender]

Phaedrus Upshaw That is good to know, thanks, I'll be sure to make the change in my vocabulary!

[zonda]

How far is your camera away from the reducer?  I am just trying to get an OK image with my Nikon D3100 but with the reducer it is impossible and I know I need to get a CCD.  I have a 9.25 SCG.  With a 2 inch diagonal it will not focus it is too far away.  I have to use the visual back with the T adapter and butt it up to the reducer but the image still sucks.  

[dilipsharan]

Excellent video. Gives a really good understanding of how focal reducers work and enhance images. Also the additional information about vignetting was good to learn about; I'd never really appreciated that aspect.

[markwelsh]

Nice summary and tutorial bud. Appreciated.

[hammettl]

It’s pronounced “vin yet ing” the g is silent. Thanks for the vid. Keep up the good work!